Meet Nerissa Manela | MPhil, MT-BC | Music Educator, Music Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nerissa Manela and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nerissa, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Miami Jam Sessions is a free music therapy socialization group and mentoring community program. The success of the Miami Jam Sessions program is largely due to the sense of respect between session facilitators, volunteers, and participants. Board-certified music therapists facilitate sessions up to two times per month, and our participants (teens and young adults with special needs) are paired with volunteer mentors to sing, play instruments, and socialize. Every person in the room is treated with the same level of respect and autonomy, which makes our sessions a safe place for everyone to express themselves. The environment of support and success allows everyone to have fun. The unique aspect of mentorship within the socialization program allows for growth in two directions: mentors serve as peer role models for our participants, but they also embark on a journey of self-discovery and empathy in working with a neurodiverse population. Many of our volunteers are preservice educators, therapists, and doctors, and our alumni have reported that their involvement in the Miami Jam Sessions program made a huge impact in their professional trajectory.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a music therapy intern with Banding Together, I enjoyed spending time as a mentor to neurodiverse participants in the California-based Jam Sessions program. When I moved to Miami to begin my professional career as a music teacher, I knew I wanted to replicate the meaningful experiences I had in my music therapy internship, and launched Miami Jam Sessions in partnership with The Donna E. Shalala MusicReach Program. While it has not been easy to balance full-time teaching, running Miami Jam Sessions, and other professional and personal commitments, it has been rewarding to see how the many facets of music, education, and therapy interact. Developing strong skills in organization, communication, and networking has been crucial to managing the demands that come with so many obligations. I’m proud to be the recipient of grants and awards that bring funding and positive attention toward my programs, including a mini grant from Music Access at The Miami Foundation and being recognized as the 2021 Miami-Dade County Public Schools Rookie Teacher of the Year.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
To me, food and culture is what makes Miami truly unique. I would be sure to take friends to Havana Harry’s or Versailles for Cuban food, and sight-see around my favorite spots in Coral Gables (like the University of Miami campus and restaurants and shops on Miracle Mile), walk around Coconut Grove, see the fascinating murals in Wynwood, and enjoy the glamor, shopping, and oceanfront views in Miami Beach.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The Miami Jam Sessions program is truly a passion project, and would not be possible without fellow music therapists and friends Ryan Rebagay, Natalie Cole, and Jessica MacLean. Our partnership and collaboration with Banding Together, The Donna E. Shalala MusicReach Program, and Music Access at The Miami Foundation have allowed our programming to provide a special opportunity to work with volunteer mentors, neurodiverse participants, and guest musicians from Miami and around the world.

Website: https://bandingtogethersd.org/what-we-do/jam-sessions/miami/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miamijamsessions/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nerissa-manela-58b42269/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miamijamsessions

Other: Online Giving Platform: https://www.mygiving.net/donate/miamijamsessions